Central address and programming unit for fire alarm detector

ABSTRACT

A central address and programming unit designed to constitute a dialogue system with a plurality of fire alarm detectors in order to characterize an alarm, the place of the disaster, technical incidents, and defects in functioning of the fire alarm detectors which are dispersed over a site includes an electronic control unit B G , a control and display panel D A , an electronic programming unit C p  for interfacing the control and display panel D A  and unit BG to the electronic programming unit and a coupling loop A B  for interfacing the control unit B G  to the integrated circuit of the pickups (17) for the fire alarm detctors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Up to the present time, installations have been used which have a numberof different smoke detectors dispersed over a site and these makedetections by pinpointing a disaster and releasing a visual or soundalarm over the site. Certain improvements have been made and consist inlinking these detectors to a central unit which records the alarm or theincident, but without being able to determine the exact place. In thelatter case, it was necessary to localize the disaster by carrying outan inspection of all detectors of the installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention permits resolving these disadvantages byconnecting in parallel on the same panel the different detectors placedover the site and by processing the information issued from theintegrated circuits contained in each pickup.

Thus, the address of the pickup and the nature of the informationemitted by the latter is determined. The different information fromdifferent pick-ups forms a dialogue between the central unit and thepickups.

The subject of the present invention is a new address system designed toconstitute a central information unit, permitting a dialogue withdifferent smoke detectors furnished with integrated circuits. Thiscentral unit displays on a visualization panel the information relativeto a disaster, defect in function, the place of the disaster or of theincident, the good functioning of the circuit, whatever thecharacteristics of the pickup may be.

The invention thus defined presents numerous advantages, in particular:

A centralized control of the functioning state of each detector;

A rapid localizing of the alarm;

A continuous operation of the system even in the case when one detectorhas become out-of-commission;

A memory for the incidents which have occurred during the detectionperiod.

The invention called "Central address and programming unit for firealarm detector" is characterized in that it has an electronic controlunit comprising an integrated circuit of several bits associated with acontrol clock, a defect control device, electronic flip-flops, a zeroreset, a multiplexer, a data switch, an address designation, a dialoguelink; a loop module comprising an integrated circuit of several bits,external memory, transmission line analyzers, a zero reset, transistorinterfaces; an electronic programming device fed by an autonomoussource, a multiplexing circuit, its keyboard control, its transferrelays; a control and dialogue panel which shows dialogue, addressinformation.

The invention will be better understood by means of the attacheddrawings, which are given only by way of a preferential embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the, functioning of the central address andprogramming unit of this invention.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are schematics showing the control circuit centralpower of the central unit of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematics representing the "loop" circuit connectedbetween the control circuit and the different smoke detector pickups.

FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 showing the programming circuit includingaddress circuits.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the front surface of the cabinet of thecentral unit showing the dialogue between the pickups or smoke detectorsand the operator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

By referring to FIG. 1, one finds the electronic organization of thesystemof the central address and programming unit.

The control circuit B_(G) is connected on one side to the loop circuitA_(B) which plays the role of interface between the B_(G) circuit andthe integrated circuits (17) of the different pickups. The connectionbetween the loop circuit A_(B) and the pickups fed from transmissionline T₁ and T₂.

The integrated circuits of the pickups are connected in series. Upstreamfrom the control circuit, the programming circuit C_(P) is shown, whichconstitutes an interface between the touch controls of cabinet D_(A)manipulated by the operator and the control circuit B_(G).

By referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, one finds the control circuitB_(G). This system is comprised of an integrated circuit of 8 bits,IC₂₁. It is controlled by a clock Y₁ associated with capacitors C₂₁₀ andC₂₁₁ shown in the figure. Defects inherent in the clockare alwayscontrolled, according to FIG. 4, by an interface comprised of atransistor Q₂₅, resistances R₂₁₇ and R₂₁₈, and capacitors C₂₄ and C₂₅.CR₂₁ represents an anti-return diode.

The materialization of the defect of the preceding system beingappreciatedat level V₈ of the panel of FIG. 3.

The analysis of a fire alarm signal and its transfer, as well as thegeneral functioning defect, are effected by IC₂₁ of FIG. 2 at the levelof ports AN₂ and AN₃. The clock Y₁ periodically emitspulses of 5 V of aduration of 200 microseconds at the level of ports PC₅ and PC₆. Thesecontrol pulses cross the circuit constituted by transistors Q₂₁ and Q₂₂for positive voltage, and are analyzed by ports AN₂ and AN₃ of theintegrated circuit IC₂₁. The negative polarity being connected by meansof resistances R₂₃₀ and R₂₆₀. The integrated circuit IC₂₁ beingconnected to the loop module A_(B) by a 3-wire S_(O), S_(I), SL_(K) bus.

The feed control of the relay of FIG. 4 (low voltage) RTF assured byIC₂₁ at the level of port PC₄. Between port PC₄ and the low-voltagerelay, an interface is connected, which is comprised of transistors Q₂₃and Q₂₄ in order to isolate IC₂₁ from the general power supply of 24 V.

In integrated circuit IC₂₁, port PC₃ analyzes the mains voltage (24 V).

The analog port AN_(O) of circuit IC₂₁ is connected to the network bymeans of potentiometers R₂₁₃ and R₂₁₄ in order to feed port AN_(O) under5 V.

Port PB₃ which pilots the alarm, is connected to the network by aninterface which keeps the alarm under 5 V. This interface is comprisedof transistor Q₂₁₁ which, associated with resistances R₂₂₆ and R₂₂₇,controls the sound alarm relay. Port PC₇ which controls the sound alarmof the central unit, is isolated from the 24-V network andis fed under 5V by the interface comprised of transistors Q₂₁₀, Q₂₀₉ and resistanceR₂₂₅.

When the general alarm is sounded, its transfer is controlled by portPC₆ of IC₂₁, which is isolated from the 24 V network by the interfacecomprised of transistor Q₂₈, resistance R₂₂₂. This interface connectsport P₆ to the RAG relay control.

The control which informs a general fault is assured by port PC₅associated with transistors Q₂₇, Q₂₆ which play the role of interfacewith the RDG control relay.

In order to assure dialogue with the "loop" module AB connected to thepickups, the IC₂₆ flip-flop fed under 5 V is used. In this circuitconstituting the dialogue, resistances R₂₄₂, R₂₄₃, R₂₄₄, R₂₄₅, fed under5 V, constitute circuits for a remote resetting of the relays.

The reset to zero is assured by the circuit R₂₃₅ associated withcapacitor C₂₉₀.

The resistance R₂₄₀, which connects the positive polarity of the 5-Vcircuit, constitutes, with resistances R₃₀₂ and R₃₁₂, push-pullresistances.

Resistances R₂₃₆, R₂₃₇, and R₂₃₄ are push-pull impedances which shortcircuit the integrated circuit IC₂₁.

The resistances R₂₃₃ and R₂₃₂ constitute isolation impedances.

The integrated circuit IC₂₈ connects IC₂₁ to the data bus IC₂₉ of FIG. 3and is an integrated circuit multiplexer which controls the cabinetkeyboard coding.

IC₂₂ is an integrated circuit which constitutes the logic of the centralunit and controls the relays of the Loop module.

IC₂₃ is an integrated circuit which functions and completes orsubstitutes for IC₂₂. It may be charged by 3 6-V storage batteries (AL)in case of a defect in the power supply. IC₂₄ in FIG. 5 is an integratedcircuit connected in series with IC₂₁ and which has dialogue with thislatter in order to pass information to it. IC₂₅ isan integrated circuitwhich completes circuit IC₂₄ in order to assure a permanent dialoguewith an external computer. The integrated circuit IC₃₀ assures thecontrol of clock Y₂ which controls IC₂₄. This clock is associated withcapacities C₂₁₂, C₂₁₃ according tothe diagram known to the expert.

The assembly of other non-indexed resistances and capacities comprisingequilibrating or filtering impedances.

By referring to FIGS. 6, and 7 and according to one importantcharacteristic of the invention, one finds the electronics of loop ABconnecting the logic unit (17) of the fire detectors connected inparallelby a transmission line T₁, T₂.

The loop module is comprised of an integrated circuit IC₁₁ with 8 bitsinFIG. 6, disposing of external memories IC₁₂ and IC₁₃ of FIG. 7.

The integrated circuit IC₁₁ is run by clock Q_(z) controlled by thecircuit comprising a transistor Q₁₃₀, capacities C₁₉ and C₁₈, diode D₁₄,and resistances R₁₁₉ and R₁₁₈. All theintegrated circuits IC₁₁, IC₁₂,IC₁₃ are uncoupled by capacitors C₁₁₁, C₁₁₂, C₁₀₀ and each is fed by a5-V voltage.

The integrated circuit IC₁₁ has its zero reset assured by the circuitcomprising resistance R₁₂₁ and capacitor C₁₁₂.

On this electronic unit, short-circuit analysis is made by the circuitcomprising resistance R₆₆ and transistors Q₁₂₀ and Q₁₂₂ of FIG. 6.

Above 350 mA between B₁, B₂ and ground, the integrated circuit IC₁₁controls the opening of transistors Q₁₂₀, then Q₁₂₂. The transistor Q₁₂₂constituting an interface. Likewise, when there is a short circuitbetween transmission lines T₁, T₂ and ground,resistances R₁₁₁ and R₁₁₇serve for isolation impedances. Transistors Q₁₂₅ and Q₁₂₆ of FIG. 7constitute the interfaces ofintegrated circuit IC₁₁ which analyzes atthe level of its port AN₃ and controls the voltage fed to B₁ by its portPA₇ (level of 350 mA).

The power supply for the entire circuit is assured by a voltage of 21.5V, regulated by transistor Q₁₂₃ associated with resistance R₁₁₀, diodeD₁₂₂ which delivers a voltage of 21.5 V, on loop B₁, B₂.

The transmission line circuit is analyzed by IC₁₁ at the level of pointsPA₄ and PA₅.

In order to isolate the loop module from the electromechanical relays ofFIG. 6 which control the "actions", 8 interfaces constituted bytransistors Q₁₁ to Q₁₁₆ are connected between integrated circuitIC₁₁ andits relays. These 8 interfaces permit assuring the operation of theelectromechanical relays under 24 V without problem for integratedcircuit IC₁₁.

For example, transistor Q₁₁ is controlled by port PB_(O) of IC₁₁ whichis run to it by any other point in the central address unit.

Circuits RR₁, RR₂, RR₃, RR₄ constituting the resistancenetworkassociated with transistors Q₁₁ to Q₁₁₆ playing the role of interface.The integrated circuit IC₁₁ has 256 lines permitting receiving 8 linesof different information or rather 7 information lines and emitting onecommand.

By referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, the entire electronicprogramming unit CP which pilots the control circuit BG can be found,and this is driven by controls found on the cabinet panel D_(A) wherethey appear in the form of contact keys. FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 areassociated with each other: lengthwise, part of FIG. 8 being joined tothe left part of FIG. 9, the right part of FIG. 9 being joined to theleft part of FIG. 10 and the latter being fit with FIG. 12. Theprogramming circuit is uncoupled from the electronic control unit bymeans of capacitors C₄₁, C₄₂, C₄₃, C₄₄, C₄₅, C₄₆.

The impedances R₄₁ and R₄₂ are so-called push-pull resistances.Resistance R₄₃ associated with diode LED D₄₁ shows the functioning whenplaced under voltage.

Transistors Q₄₁, Q₄₂ of FIG. 8 associated with resistances R₄₅, R₄₆ andwith diode D₄₂ detect defects in functioning. In the latter case, diodeLED D₄₂ is illuminated. When the circuit isoperational, the battery isrecharged by means of the 24-V network, whose load voltage is regulatedat 3.6 V by resistance R₄₉ associated with transistor Q₄₄ and with diodeD₄₇. In the total absence of supply current, the sound alarm KL₁ anddiode D₄₂ are excited bymeans of transistor Q₄₃ and diode D₄₄ toindicate that the central unit is out-of-commission.

In order to check the good functioning of these alarm levels, thecircuit comprised of transistors Q-hd 46, Q₄₇, connected to resistancesR-hd 412, R₄₁₃, R₄₁₄ and to capacitor C₄₇ is utilized by means of thecoded keyboard (FIG. 9).

The integrated circuit IC₄₁ of FIG. 10 is a multiplexer whichcontrolsthe display of data placed in the external panel AF₁, AF₂, AF₃.These data essentially concern the address of the detector as a functionof the fire alarm. Integrated circuit IC₄₂ of FIG. 11 is a multiplexerwhich runs the fault display for a detector as a function of the addressof the latter. This display is indicated in FIG. 13 by AF₄, AF₅, AF₆.

Diodes LED D₄₈, D₄₉, D₅₀, D₅₁, D₅₂, D₅₃, D₅₄, D₅₅, D₅₆, D₅₇ constituteluminous signals which are controlled by integrated circuits IC₄₁ andIC₄₂. These diodes connected to each display panel indicate:

for D₄₈ a defect in the power supply

D₄₉ test detector

D₅₀ line transfer defect

D₅₁ fire alarm

D₅₂ technical alarm

D₅₃ general fire alarm

D₅₄ general fault

D₄₅ line defect

D₄₆ localized fault

D₄₇ out-of-commission.

These LED diodes appear on the outer panel of the cabinet.

RE₁,RE₂, RE₃, RE₄, RE₅, RE₆, RE₇, RE₈ are relays that represent thecontrol keys of the keyboard, whoseelectronic control is assured byintegrated circuits IC₄₃ and IC₄₄ of FIG. 12. The system is supplied bya 6-volt safeguard batteryAD.

FIG. 13 shows the visualization of the information system issued fromthe detectors and taken up by the "loop" module and the electroniccontrol unit, as well as the controls formulated by the programmingcircuit.

Signal V₁ indicates the placing under voltage of the entire device.

Signal V₂ indicates a defect in power supply, while V₃ informs"out-of-commission."

Signal V₄ indicates the detector test and V₅ a defect in the transfer.

Each fire detector is named by a code at the level of keyboard C_(L).

As soon as this code is recorded, signals ZA₁ and ZA₂ indicate theaddress and the nature of the alarm, or of the defect at the level ofsignal V₆ fire alarm, V₇ general fault, V₈ technical defect, and V₉,safeguard defect.

IM represents the printer.

As a function of the detector named and localized by its address atlevel ZA₁ or ZA₂, signal:

V₁₀ indicates the site of the fire alarm,

V₁₁ indicates the site of the technical alarm,

V₁₂ indicates the site of the fault,

V₁₃ indicates the out-of-commission alarm.

The designations E₁, E₂, E₃, E₄, indicate, respectively, the signaltests, the controls of auxiliary sources, the resetting of the system,and the stopping of the sound signals.

I claim:
 1. A central address and programming unit for a plurality offire alarm detectors connected to a logic unit, said logic unitcomprising a plurality of pickups, said central address and programmingunit comprising:a. an electronic control circuit for controlling saidcentral address and programming unit, said electronic control circuitcomprising a data bus, an integrated circuit IC₂₁, a clock Y₁ forcontrolling integrated circuits IC₂₁, defect control means forcontrolling defects in the clock and a multiplexer for connectingintegrated circuit IC₂₁ to the data bus; b. a loop circuit forinterfacing the electronic control circuit to the fire alarm detectors,said loop circuit comprising an integrated circuit and external memoriescoupled to said integrated circuit; c. a programming circuit forpilotting the operations of said electronic control circuit, saidelectronic programming circuit comprising a multiplexing circuit forcontrolling the display of data, and for driving said programmingcircuit, a keyboard, said keyboard having a plurality of transfer relaysthat represent control keys; and d. a control and dialogue panel foroperating the programming circuit and showing and printing data ofaddress information.
 2. A central address and programming unit accordingto claim 1, said electronic control circuit further including capacitorsC₂₁₀ and C₂₁₁ connected to integrated circuit IC₂₁ and the defectcontrol means comprises a transistor Q₂₅, resistance R₂₁₇ and R₂₁₈, andcapacitors C₂₄, C₂₅, diode CR₂₁, said integrated circuit IC₂₁ beingconnected to the loop module by means of a 3-wire S₀ and S₁ SL_(k) bus.3. A central address and programming unit according to claim 1, furthercharacterized in that integrated circuit IC₂₁ having a port PC₃ whichreceives a mains voltage, a port ANo which is connected to theelectronic control circuit by potentiometers P₂₁₃ and R₂₁₄ and a portPB₃ which pilots an alarm.
 4. A central address and programming unitaccording to claim 1 and wherein said loop circuit includes relays andsaid electronic control circuit further includes an integrated circuitIC₂₈ for interfacing integrated circuit IC₂₁ to the data bus, saidintegrated circuit IC₂₈ including an integrated circuit IC₂₂ for thecontrol of the relays in said loop circuit.
 5. A central address andprogramming unit according to claim 1, said control circuit includingintegrated circuits IC₂₃ for indicating the address of each fire alarmdetector, each circuit IC₂₃ being able to substitute and complete thefunction of integrated circuit IC₂₂ .
 6. A central address andprogramming unit according to claim 1, further including integratedcircuits IC₂₄ and IC₂₅ for establishing dialogue with the outside.
 7. Acentral address and programming unit according to claim 1 and whereinsaid loop circuit includes an integrated circuit IC₁₁ for controllingthe loop circuit external memories IC₁₂ and IC₁₃ for said IC₁₁, a clockfor running IC₁₁, and a transistor Q₁₃₀ and associated with capacitorsC₁₉, C₁₈, and diode D₁₄ for controlling said clock.
 8. A central addressand programing unit according to claim 1, and said loop circuit furtherincluding an integrated circuit IC₁₁ associated with resistances R₆₆,R₁₁₂, and transistors Q₁₂₀ and Q₁₂₆ controlled by IC₁₁ for analyzingshort circuits.
 9. A central address and programming unit according toclaim 1 and further including a plurality transistors Q₁₁, Q₁₂, Q₁₃,Q₁₄, Q₁₅, Q₁₆, Q₁₇, Q₁₈, Q₁₉, Q₁₀₀, Q₁₁₀, Q₁₁₂, Q₁₁₃, Q₁₁₄, Q₁₁₅, Q₁₁₆for isolating the loop circuit from the circuit.
 10. A central addressand programing unit according to claims 1 and further includingtransistors Q₂₁ and Q₂₂ for analyzing transfer and alarm malfunctions inintegrated circuit IC₁₂.